Michael Kraus & Teh-Way
David Chen
Emotion, forthcoming
Abstract: The smile is perhaps the most
widely studied facial expression of emotion, and in this article we examine its
status as a sign of physical dominance. We reason, on the basis of prior
research, that prior to a physical confrontation, smiles are a nonverbal sign
of reduced hostility and aggression, and thereby unintentionally communicate
reduced physical dominance. Two studies provide evidence in support of this
prediction: Study 1 found that professional fighters who smiled more in a
prefight photograph taken facing their opponent performed more poorly during
the fight in relation to their less intensely smiling counterparts. In Study 2,
untrained observers judged a fighter as less hostile and aggressive, and
thereby less physically dominant when the fighters' facial expression was
manipulated to show a smiling expression in relation to the same fighter
displaying a neutral expression. Discussion focused on the reasons why smiles
are associated with decreased physical dominance.
Nod to Kevin Lewis
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